went out to take a look at Masonic St's makeover again this last weekend. from looking at the project schematics, I think I had expected a larger impact on the sidewalk areas. still, though, I like how orderly the street feels. typical views...

not quite everything is done yet. think this will be a bus stop with more green bike lane painted behind it

approaching Geary at the north end of the project area, you can see not all the median pavers have gone in yet

bonus! new development in the Target parking lot

across from Target on the NW end of the project, there is a little 'left-over' area created by Masonic's jog to the east before it crosses Geary. that area has had some green and some pattern added to it. looking north

and back south

but, there are some garages attached to the houses along that stretch, so access has to be maintained. this is the car path, looking north

Five new towers could be built along one booming SF block
Roland Li Aug. 14, 2018 Updated: Aug. 14, 2018 12:36 p.m.

. . . The development wave is now spreading south. Five towers are approved or proposed on the 500 block of Howard Street, just a block from the newly opened Salesforce Transit Center. They would bring a density unheard of in the area until recent years.

The latest proposal, filed last week, calls for a 350-foot-tall building at 543 Howard St. and an adjacent parking lot at 48-50 Tehama St. The project would include 49,500 square feet of office space and six full-floor housing units, each around 5,000 square feet. An existing four-story office building that’s leased to Galvanize, a co-working space, would be preserved, with the tower stretching over it . . . .

The other four tower plans include:

•540 Howard St., a 44-story project with housing and offices proposed in May.

•The Renzo Piano-designed 555 Howard St. with condos and a hotel, already approved.

•A residential tower at 524 Howard St. approved in November 2016, but put on hold by developer Crescent Heights.

•And the largest of the batch, 542-550 Howard St., which would be the city’s fourth-tallest tower at 800 feet, with 170 housing units, a 210-room hotel and 251,000 square feet of office space; the plan is undergoing city reviews . . . .

Robbins proposed just under 50,000 square feet of office space at 543 Howard St. because of the city’s Proposition M, a 1986 law that limits the amount of office space approved each year. Projects below 50,000 square feet receive a square-foot allocation that’s separate from larger projects. There’s much less competition for smaller projects to receive approval, according to city data.

Robbins said his goal is to maximize the density of his proposed tower by adding housing on top, while still preserving the existing 1924 structure at 543 Howard St. . . . .

Parklab, the SF-based park development company behind events like SoMa’s StrEat Food fest, have big plans for the former temporary Transbay Terminal, including event space and scads of food trucks, to the annoyance of some neighbors in the nearby, ultra-swanky Infinity condos . . . .

On August 1, Parklab developer Seth Hamalian sent a letter to the San Francisco Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure that proposed turning the site into an events space, which would include fleets of food trucks slinging eats . . . .

^^The argument is if nothing is happening there is will become an eyesore, probably attracting homeless campers, car sleepers and the usual suspects. It could be used as a straightforward parking lot, of course. But to just leave it empty probably does invite trouble.

Naturally, I'd like to see the ultimate development--housing and park--move forward expeditiously.

On August 8th only the walls of the two buildings being torn down were standing. This is the site of the new building (11 stories) for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. It will house students, faculty & those rent control tenants displaced by the school. A cafe & performance spaces will be included.

Jerry: I went by to see what was up at Trinity Plaza Phase 4 the other day but really couldn't see through the fence and into the hole. It looked pretty deep though. Since you have a much better view down into it, any chance for some shots?

Jerry: I went by to see what was up at Trinity Plaza Phase 4 the other day but really couldn't see through the fence and into the hole. It looked pretty deep though. Since you have a much better view down into it, any chance for some shots?

as the Central SOMA Plan makes it way through getting its final approvals.... this is from last week, just showing progress (or, status) on the Fourth-and-Brannan station platform of the non-subway portion of the Central Subway

as the Central SOMA Plan makes it way through getting its final approvals.... this is from last week, just showing progress (or, status) on the Fourth-and-Brannan station platform of the non-subway portion of the Central Subway

Skimmed through the Central SOMA Plan. It is great, and thankfully seems to pass soon here. Most pleased with the design integrity they have committed to new developments.

I have been joking for some time that SoMa gas stations are becoming an endangered species.

It's no joke. I am wondering whether the Planning Dept. will let them all go forcing city residents to waste gas driving to the suburbs to fill up or, short of that, siot in environmentally unfriendly gas lines at the few remaining stations.